There is now a large variety of thermoplastic materials used in filament type 3D printing. There are two which I have used in my printer.

The first is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). It is a good general use high impact resistant material. It has a fairly high melting temperature. It is the first material I used in my printer. It requires an extruder temperature between 210 to 240 degrees Celsius It also requires a heated bed temperature of 90 to 100 or more degrees Celsius. Well within the range of my printer but at the high end.

Some users claim the printer needs to be enclosed in a case to retain heat when using ABS. I have not found that necessary in my experience.  Everyone’s environment is a bit different so there is a lot of misinformation about what is absolute and what is not. In my opinion there are generalities but no absolutes. The makers of the plastic provide a range of temperature rather than an exact set point for extruding their materials.

The second material I am using is Polylatic Acid (PLA). It is a lower temperature thermoplastic made from or with natural sugars and starches. It is eco friendly as it is made with natural material. It extrudes between 180 to 210 degrees Celsius. The bed does not need to be heated but I heat mine to 50 degrees Celsius. The heated bed is to promote the plastic to adhere to the bed for flat printing and to decrease the likeliness of the part coming loose and warping as it cools from the extrusion temperature.

PLA is a fragile plastic, not very shock resistant and not good for use with high temperatures. However, it is one of the easiest materials to use in 3D printing. I have used it for hundreds of printed items with almost no issues.

I am again visiting the ABS material.  Driven primarily by available color choice and in particular by the very high cost of GREEN PLA, several spools of ABS are on their way to my studio, including a green.

The operation of the printer is virtually the same as for PLA except for temperatures. The cost of material is the same too. The higher temperature does make it a bit more critical in setting the proper heat. No two spools perform exactly the same. Not a huge difference, but as little as 5 degrees (C) can be noticeable.

Except for the bio friendly aspect of PLA, the ABS is a better material for making durable products. It is so tough; it is the plastic used to make world famous Leggo brand toy bricks. They can be broken but not easily.

I have printed using far more PLA to this date, but I may develop an equal liking for using ABS. It is running in my printer as I write this and all is normal. Only the extra heat and a different odor are noticeable.

I like having the engineering opportunity to choose the best material for a particular purpose. Going “over spec” with an equal cost material is a rare but great treat. In my case PLA has worked fine for my projects but there is nothing wrong with making the same items with ABS. The range of color is equal or better than PLA.

I have started selling some of my printed items. Not because I was trying to do that. I give away many of items as gifts and trinkets. A lot of toys are made for my eight-year-old granddaughter too. But friends have seen things I made for my wife and they are willing to pay me to make them the same thing. The entrepreneur awakens in me. So why not? Those items should probably be made with ABS but I have been bragging about the eco-friendliness of the PLA.

Honestly, this form of 3D printing is not the best method for production. It gets the job done but very slowly. It is helping pay for the printer and I can leave it running for the many hours required while I am carving wax or doing something else more productive. Hmm… mowing the grass? After the design, 3D printing is mostly set and forget.

Bad news is… well, it not bad, but now I am thinking of more speed. A different style machine could do the job in maybe half the time. Maybe not. It just has me looking astray from what is working quite well right here. Thinking is cheap but dangerous. Nothing new for me unless the present machine craters or I get a LOT more commissioned work. It’s fun to ponder the alternatives. Material or machines.